As polls tighten, all votes count

Hillary Clinton returned to the campaign trail Thursday in North Carolina after a bout of pneumonia that sidelined her for three days and revived questions about both Donald Trump's and her openness regarding their health. Andrew HarnikThe Associated Press

Hillary Clinton returned to the campaign trail Thursday in North Carolina after a bout of pneumonia that sidelined her for three days and revived questions about both Donald Trump's and her openness regarding their health. Andrew HarnikThe Associated Press

Every vote counts, some years more than others. With early voting due to start as soon as the end of this month in some states, Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton were virtually tied for the popular vote this week.

Though Clinton’s lead held in the Electoral College, Trump gained in the swing states of Florida and Ohio. It’s early, but still. As economists have noted – more on this later – we can’t afford the wrong presidency.

There are reasons for the closeness of this race, some good, some deplorable, as Clinton accurately put it. One understandable reason is that this economic recovery has taken too long to reach anyone but the rich.

Though census data this week showed, at long last, an increase in median household incomes, the improvement didn’t extend to rural areas robbed of unskilled jobs by globalization. Most of us have clawed our way back to where we were when the 2008 recession started. But some – too many – have been handed the bitter pill of diminished prospects.

Premium content for only $0.99

In a perfect world, all candidates would be honest, experienced and charismatic. The world is not perfect. We believe that Clinton’s flaws, such as they are, pale next to those of Trump.

Trump has exploited these dashed hopes, which is why so much of rural America is now Trump country. And it’s despicable, really: From the charitable “donations” that actually came out of others’ pockets to his Trump University get-rich-quick scam, Trump’s actions have reflected an utter contempt for struggling folks.

But part, too, is Clinton. Never mind that while Trump served himself, she has served the public. Never mind that while the most notable expenditure of Trump’s foundation was – wait for it – a giant Donald Trump portrait, her family foundation was paying for disaster relief and AIDS drugs. Her defensiveness has undercut her, to the point that Trump – orange, obese and formerly bankrupt – got a veritable pass this week on his health and tax records while she went to work sick and got accused of hiding something.

In a perfect world, all candidates would be honest, experienced and charismatic. The world is not perfect. We believe that Clinton’s flaws, such as they are, pale next to those of Trump, with his lies and insults.

Read Next

Changing the DMV’s leadership is a good step forward, but fixing its problems will be harder than replacing the names on the stationery. Gavin Newsom’s thoughts on the DMV are well-documented, giving voters a chance to hold him accountable for his handling of its problems.